1.1.
This Digital Safety Policy recognises Non-trivial’s commitment to ensuring the digital safety of our staff, volunteers, participants and anyone who comes into contact online with Non-trivial and our work.
1.2.
Non-trivial aims to be welcoming, encouraging, and safe for all participants. All staff, volunteers, and participants are therefore required to abide by this Digital Safety Policy on all Non-trivial virtual platforms and any other virtual platforms that Non-trivial staff, volunteers and participants use to interact with each other. This Digital Safety Policy identifies the risks of online activity and the steps we are taking to mitigate them.
1.3.
Non-trivial works with, and comes into contact with, volunteers, staff and participants who may be children and/or adults at risk. Some of our online activities include: holding virtual group sessions between participants and staff, communicating and collaborating via online platforms, holding virtual one-to-one mentoring sessions between staff and participants.
1.4.
This purpose of this policy is to:
1.5.
Digital safety is the responsibility of everyone. This policy applies to all employees, officers, trustees, consultants, contractors, volunteers, interns, casual workers, agency workers, participants and anyone involved in Non-trivial’s activities.
1.6.
This policy supplements and should be read in conjunction with Effective Ventures Foundation’s Safeguarding Policy (Effective Ventures Foundation (“EVF”) is the legal organisation that Non-trivial is a part of) and our other policies and procedures including our: Code of Conduct; Anti–Harassment and Bullying Policy; and Student Privacy Summary.
1.7.
This policy applies to the use of all electronic devices used to access the internet, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones and also any personal devices used to access Non-trivial’s systems.
2.1.
A child is anyone under the age of 18.
2.2.
An adult at risk is a person aged 18 years or over who is or may be in need of care by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of themselves, or unable to protect themselves from either the risk of or the experience of abuse, neglect or harm.
2.3.
For the purposes of this policy, staff includes those working on behalf of Non-trivial, including permanent, fixed term or casual contracts.
2.4.
For the purposes of this policy, a volunteer at Non-trivial is someone who:
2.5.
For the purposes of this policy, a participant, is anyone who has been selected to participate in a Non-trivial programme.
3.1.
Non-trivial has a Code of Conduct which we expect everyone who interacts with, or on behalf of, Non-trivial to comply with – this applies equally to online and in-person interactions.
3.2.
Non-trivial’s policy is that all electronic interactions between staff, volunteers, participants and others interacting with, and on behalf of, Non-trivial should take place via our corporately managed online systems and collaboration tools, such as Circle and Discord, or by email. Connecting on professional social media (e.g. LinkedIn) is also permitted and encouraged.
3.3.
Staff, volunteers, participants and others interacting with, and on behalf of, Non-trivial should not use non-professional social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp) to communicate with each other except in the most exceptional circumstances (for example, if communication is needed for some practical purpose and other communication channels are not working or are temporarily unavailable). If this happens, then a report of the incident should be made to Non-trivial’s Safeguarding Lead, by email (peter@non-trivial.org) or by phone (+44 7 383 842 314).
3.4.
Regardless of which online technology is being used, we expect that staff, volunteers, participants and others interacting with, and on behalf of, Non-trivial adhere to the behaviours outlined in this policy to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all participants.
3.5.
In addition to the policies mentioned above, we expect staff, volunteers, participants and others interacting with, and on behalf of, Non-trivial to comply with the following general principles of online behaviour:
• Always use our corporately managed online systems and collaboration tools for formal programme-related communications;
• Maintain a professional level of conduct in your use of online technologies at all times when communicating with anyone with a connection to Non-trivial;
• Be respectful, considerate and not use inappropriate, offensive, threatening or suggestive language;
• Respect interpersonal boundaries and be appropriately formal in communications;
• Do not deliberately browse, download, upload, share or discuss material that could be considered offensive or illegal;
• Do not send anyone material that could be considered threatening, bullying, offensive or illegal;
• Do not use online technologies in any way which could:
4.1.
Non-trivial’s main online conferencing service used for the delivery of its programmes is Circle. This service is used for programme sessions with participants and volunteers.
4.2.
Where online video/conferencing platforms are being used with participants who are children or adults at risk, Non-trivial’s Code of Conduct and EVF’s Safeguarding Policy will also apply.
4.3.
In addition, the following principles should be followed when using video calling/conferencing technology to keep participants safe:
5.1.
Non-trivial’s main instant messaging tool used for the delivery of programmes is Circle. Staff, volunteers, participants and others interacting with, and on behalf of, Non-trivial are expected to use these tools when communicating and collaborating for programme purposes. In doing so, the following policies should be adhered to: Anti–Harassment and Bullying Policy; Code of Conduct, EVF’’s Safeguarding Policy and Student Privacy Summary.
5.2.
In certain limited situations staff may need to contact volunteers or participants, or each other, by text message or other instant messaging applications.
5.3.
Non-trivial does not endorse the use of alternative instant messaging platforms for programme purposes. To the extent that these alternative platforms are used by staff, volunteers, participants and others interacting with, and on behalf of, Non-trivial to communicate and collaborate with each other for social/non-programme purposes, Non-trivial expects the standards of behaviour described in this policy to be adhered to in accordance with 3.5 above
5.4.
As such, where staff, volunteers, participants and others interacting with, and on behalf of, Non-trivial are communicating with each other via any instant messaging platform, whether on a one-to-one basis or in a virtual group, Non-trivial requires that its policies are properly adhered to, in particular our Anti-Harassment and Bullying Policy. Where communications are with a child and/or adult at risk, EVF’s Safeguarding Policy and our Code of Conduct will also apply.
5.5.
In addition, the following principles should be followed when using instant messaging platforms to keep participants safe:
6.1.
Staff, volunteers, participants and others interacting with, and on behalf of, Non-trivial using a new technology not specifically mentioned in this policy will be expected to behave with similar standards of behaviour to those outlined within this document.
7.1.
Cyberbullying will not be tolerated, and any instances of cyberbullying will be taken very seriously by Non-trivial and dealt with under our Anti-Harrassment and Bullying Policy.
7.2.
Anyone who witnesses or suspects cyberbullying should immediately report their concerns to the safeguarding lead in line with paragraph 8.1. If you feel comfortable in doing so, and it is appropriate in all the circumstances, intervene to prevent further harm from taking place.
7.3.
Non-trivial recognises that staff, volunteers and participants may be victims and will take appropriate action in either situation.
8.1.
Everyone has a right to feel safe while engaging in our work. Any concerns about online behaviour, actions or other concerns, need to be reported to Non-trivial’s Safeguarding Lead, by email (peter@non-trivial.org) or by phone (+44 7 383 842 314). Alternatively, report the incident to EVF’s Designated Safeguarding Officer, Susan Shi (susan@ev.org), in line with EVF’s Safeguarding Policy.